Indicator for railroad cars



1,645,133 0 1927' F. M. GINGER INDICATOR FOR RAILROAD CARS Filed Sept. 28. 1926 gwumtoz 7 1 er: m; Fr-B 7 7 2/ r I 7 I Patented Get. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES ATENT FRANK M. GINGER, OF ELDORADO, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF GIVE-THIRD TO H. J. OLSEN AND ONE-THIRD TO VIILLIAIVI G. BLANKINSHIP, BOTH OF ELIDORADO, KANSAS.

INDICATOR FOR RAILROAD CARS.

Application filed September 28, 1926.

This invention relates to indicators for railroad cars and is primarily an improvement on the structure shown in my Patent No. 1,602,106, dated October 5, 1926, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind wherein is provided a main plate or body and a swinging plate or leaf associated therewith, the same coacting in a manner to effect the exposing of different notices.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind whereby the main plate or body and also the swinging plate or leaf may be effectively maintained in desired adjustment or arrangement.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved indicator for a railroad car whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be heremaiter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom panying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an indicator for railroad cars constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the structure illustrated in Figure 1, a second or turning position of the plate or body being diagrammatically indicated by dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the hinged plate or leaf in a second position;

Figure 4 is a view in top plan of the structure as herein disclosed.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing B denotes a supporting bracket consisting of a strip of metal bent to provide a horizontally disposed portion 10 adapted to be attached to the frame of a tank car, freight car and the like. This portion 10 is provided with a transversely disposed slot 11.

The bracket B also embodies the vertical portion 12 which at its upper end is provided with an upwardly inclined portion 14 formed with an aperture or slot 15, the central portion of said slot being enlarged to Serial No. 138,266.

aiford what might be termed a circular opening 15 Mounted upon this upwardly inclined portion 14 is a lock consisting of a plate 16 having a more or less r ctilinear opening 17 cut throughit and formed at its upper end with an inwardly projecting tongue 18. This plate 16 is provided with the downwardly and inwardly bent flanges 19 which embrace the side margins of the portion 14 whereby the plate 16 constitutes a sliding lock urged by gravity downwardly of the portion 14. Goacting with the bracket B is a main indicating plate or body 20, herein shown as diamond-shaped or rectilinear in form,

and having downwardly extending lug or tongue 21 at its lower end adapted to slide through the slot 12 hereinbefore referred to. This plate or body 20 at its upper end is provided with an upwardly projecting tongue terminating in a head 23 substantially circular having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening 15 or the length of the slot 15.

In assembling the device, itwill be understood that the head 23 is initially formed with a diameter smaller than the length of the slot 15 and after being passed tlirough such slot the head is flattened out by hammering so as to increase its diameter.

The tongue 22 is provided with an open ing 24 through which passes the lug 18 of the slide plate 16. lVhen the lug 18 is free of the-tongue 22 it is possible to raise the plate or body 20 sufficiently to free the tongue 21 from the slot 11 and thus permit the plate or body to be. turned entirely around so as to display its opposite face. This turning movement is accomplished by having a portion of the tongue 22 between the opening 24 and the head 28 reduced in width, as at 25, it being understood that after the tongue 21 has been freed from the portion 10 of the body B the plate 20 is moved in a direction to bring such reduced portion 25 of the tongue 22 within the circnlar opening 15 One face of the plate or body 20 may be painted white so that when the plate or body is turned with its white face outward it will indicate that the contents of the car are harmless.

The outer side portions of the plate or CJI vor body 20. The outer. central portion of the plate or leaf 29 is provided with an outstanding elongated'tongue which, when the plate or leaf 29 is in its lowered position, overlies the tongue 21 hereinbefore referred to and is adapted to be passed through the 7 opening 12 whereby this plate or leaf 29 is effectively held in such lowered position.

'When the plate or leaf 29 is in its raised position, the tongue 30 overlies the tongue 22 and said tongue 30 has an opening 31 which registers with the opening 24 in the tongue 22 and through which the lug 18 is also adapted to pass whereby the plate or leaf 29 is effectively held in its raised posi tion. lVhen the plate or leaf 29 is in its raised position, it is to be noted that the tongue 30 is also directed through the slot 15. As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, it would seem that the plate or leaf 29 is substantially in the for nof an equilateral triangle and that the arms 28 are at what might be termed .the base portion of the plate or leaf 29.

he plate or body 20 above and below its vertical center is provided with suitable legends or indicia 32 giving desired information while the opposite faces of the plate or leaf 29 are also provided with suitable legends'or indicia 38. WVhen the plate or leaf 29 is in its lowered position the lower legend or indicia 32 is concealed by such plate or leaf while the legend or indicia on one face of said plate or leaf 29 is exposed. When the plate or leaf 29 is in its raised position, theupper legend or indicia 32 on the plate or body 20 is concealed and the legend or indicia 33 on the opposed face of the plate or leaf 29 is exposed. The legends or indicia 82 and 33 are preferably such to iiidicate the character of the cargo and its destination or to indicate the car to be emptied and to denotethe owner of the car.

From the foregoing description it is. thought to be obvious that an indicator for 7 a railroad car constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility'with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts, herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1- v 1. An indicator of the character described comprising opposed portions each provided tongues to hold the plate in applied position, said means being also engageable with the leaf for holding the same in one of its two positions.

2. An indicator of the character described comprising opposed portions each provided with openin s, an indicator plate disposed between saicf portions'a'nd having tongues, each of said tongues being insertable through an opening, one of said tongues being rotatable Within its opening when the second tongue is disengaged from its opening, a leaf carried by the plate adapted to be swung in a position to overlie opposite portions of.

the plate, said leaf being also provided with a tongue to pass through either of the openings, one of the tongues of the plate having an opening, the tongue of the leaf also having an opening registering with the opening in said tongue or the plate when the leaf is in one of its two positions, and means in- 'sei'table through said registering openingsfor holding the plate against displacement and to maintain the leaf in such position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature.

FRANK M. GINGER. 

